The Programming Board is determined to "bring comedy back to Dartmouth." The immediate result of this undertaking was a performance by Shang, a Los Angeles based comedian, Saturday night. The act was the beginning of what the Programming Board hopes will be a revival of "Eleazar's Dungeon," a comedy club that existed at Dartmouth in the 80s.
Shang was insightful and funny both on the stage and off. His act was a tad risque by some standards and vulgar by others as he warmed the ears of this politically sensitive campus.
After the show, The Dartmouth got an opportunity to talk to Shang about his routine, Hollywood and impressions of his student audience.
The Dartmouth: What was the hardest thing about performing in front of a Dartmouth audience?
Shang: They're too politically incorrect.
The D: What was the best thing about performing for a Dartmouth audience?
Shang: They were open minded to any kind of material.
The D: Do you find any limitations trying to spread your political message through comedy?
Shang: Yes. Audiences really don't want to hear it sometimes. So you got to be really funny. You got to be funny first, and once you're funny after that they'll listen, but you got to be funny first.
The D: How did you get into comedy?
Shang: A friend of mine pretty much dared me to get on the stage. I like to let people know what's going on, and what the government is up to. They get to laugh. I get paid. It's a pretty good deal.
The D: Who are some of your comic influences?
Shang: Dick Greggory. You wouldn't know him; he's the first black political comic. Chris Rock and Paul Moohoey, one of the top underground comics ever. He wrote all the material for Richard Pryor. He's the shit.
The D: What is your most memorable professional moment?
Shang: My first standing O after I did Def Jam five years ago.
The D: In what ways do you get typecast as a Black comedian?
Shang: I get typecast in every way. And I only can do black clubs with black people, my TV credits don't count for anything if it's for black shows ... [but] I've done shows internationally, is that what you're asking me? Yes, I've done Japan, Ireland and Amsterdam.
The D: And your upcoming shows?
Shang: I got about 30 or 40 colleges I gotta do. Then I have a TV show called "The Test" on FX. I'm trying to get this [other] show done right, for BET, called "Keep it Real."
The D: What kind of shows are "The Test" and "Keep it Real?"
Shang: I don't know what "The Test" is exactly -- they just called me to do it. "Keep it Real" is like politically incorrect. It's a round table discussion show, but with regular folks that we pull in right off the street. It will be one celebrity and then we set them down and tell them this is the topic, whatever you feel about it, talk about it.
The D: You said "trying to," so you're still selling it to them?
Shang: Well, yes.
The D: So, how did you end up performing in Hanover of all places?
Shang: [At the National Association of College Activities in Nashville] they picked me ... from a tape ... and I had to showcase too.
The D: So it was like an audition?
Shang: Yeah, I mean in front of 2,500 people. That's not exactly a normal audition though. You have 20 minutes to be funny....
The D: So how come Programming Board picked you?
Shang: Because I threatened her [Linda Kennedy, the Associate Director of Student Activities].
The D: I heard it was because you were smart as well as funny. You actually threatened Linda Kennedy?
Shang: I threatened the whole staff. [I said] If I don't come to Dartmouth, heads are going to roll. That's what threats are for -- that's how I get all my college gigs. The gig I did Friday night at Kentucky, threats. Threats work. Nah! Don't put that there. How does Shang get his gigs: [imitating a tattletale's voice] physical violence.
The D: Aren't you expensive?
Programming Board: We do have a big budget. We can take care of it.
Shang: Wait -- hold up, hold on. They got more of a budget? Ahhh, they didn't tell me.
The D: You tried to ask for more money, huh?
Shang: No, I actually gave them a deal. I gave them a huge bargain. They could have paid me more, but they got the deal.
The D: Of course that's smart business.
Shang: If you book me by a certain time, it costs less money. But if you book me after a forty five day window, I can make the money go up. I'll tell you how much I got at the other gig. She knows how much I got.
THE D: How much did you get?
SHANG: I'm supposed to get 2 g's.
THE D: They pay you that much to come up here and stand...
SHANG: What do you mean that much? That's not a lot. I think you don't realize how established I am.
THE D: I probably don't.
SHANG: I'll give you an example. I got paid eight thousand dollars at UCLA.
THE D: Ok. How do I break into show business again?
P.B. There were people at the conference who wanted...
Shang: Bob Saget wanted 10 g's.
THE D: Bog Saget was there?
P.B. Bobby Knight the basketball coach from Indiana, he wants twenty five thousand dollars to do an hour long lecture at your school. Twenty five thousand dollars.
SHANG: And he's not funny. And he might choke you.
P.B. His lecture was like a coach's locker room lecture, he had note cards and everything.
THE D: Is there a problem with representations of black people on television?
SHANG: Yes.
THE D: What are some of the problems?
SHANG: They don't show the full spectrum of our landscape.
THE D: What is the difference between white people and black people?
SHANG: Credit. They get better credit. And I think that they're just not aware of the oppression we go through. They feel everything is cool, but it's not. And I think that black people got to stop looking to white people to help them all the time.
